Road Ministry seeks nod for Rs 500 cr small projects

In the fourth phase of the National Highway Development Programme (NHDP), the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry has sought permission to clear projects costing up to Rs 500 crore in an attempt to expedite investments. At present, all road projects are cleared by inter-ministerial committees, which the Ministry says causes delay.

A senior official concerned said that many of the projects will be small ones worth around Rs 400 crore on average. It would make the process easier if these small projects were left to us to take care of, the Ministry's official said. The road transport and highways ministry will soon move a cabinet note seeking these powers.

The NHDP Phase IV involves improving the condition of 20,000 km of national highways by strengthening and widening them into 2-lanes. Over 3,900-km stretch costing 29,700 crore is already under implementation while about 16,000 km is yet to be awarded.